Free Crimson Midnight (A New Adult Dark Urban Fantasy Series) (The Crimson Series Book 1) by Amos Cassidy Page A

to distract the sweating customers from the aches and pains of
their bodies as they pushed themselves to the limit.
    At half past one, when Rose
returned from her half-hour lunch break, Heat was pretty empty. Peak time would
be after six when people stopped by to work out after a long day stuck behind a
desk.
    The early morning defence class was
an exception to her rota, scheduled as such for those customers who actually
liked to kick arse before work. Right now, however, all she spied was a
middle-aged, slightly overweight woman on the treadmill, and an O.A.P, who
looked surprisingly fit for his age, on the rowing machine. She had checked her
rota and was supposed to be meeting a new customer for orientation.  By the
looks of it, he or she was running late.
    For a moment, Rose was captivated
by Beyonce’s powerful voice instructing would be suitors that ‘if they liked
it, they should have put a ring on it.’  The swish of the door opening behind
her caught her attention, and turning to face the entrance she quickly masked a
scowl as a larger than life Harold, dressed in a muscle top and cut offs,
strode toward her. He did nothing to mask his frown of annoyance upon spotting
her.
    “I don’t need an orientation,” he
almost growled by way of greeting. “I could find my way around a gym
blindfolded.”
    “Now that I’d like to see.” Rose
snorted as he glowered at her. She could tell he was going to make this
difficult, and she didn’t need difficult right now. She needed this job and the
gym needed customers.
    Swallowing the many retorts that
sprang to mind, Rose took a deep breath and decided to appeal to his better
nature, provided he had one.  “Look, its company policy to conduct an
orientation for any new customer. It’s an insurance thing, you know, so we can
say we showed you how to use the equipment just in case you decide to drop a
barbell on your foot or something.” 
    Harold remained unmoved. From the
corner of her eye she spotted her boss enter the gym. He looked over in her
direction, noting the obvious tension between them.  He took a step in their
direction. Oh, God, if Harold refused to cooperate she would look totally
incompetent.
    “Please, Harold,” she said
urgently. “I really need this job and my boss is coming over.” She jerked her
head, almost imperceptibly toward the entrance.  Before she could gauge
Harold’s reaction, Michael, her boss, was upon them. 
    A tall, athletic man in his mid-forties,
his face shockingly youthful against his naturally grey hair, he smiled with
practised politeness at Harold. “Everything all right?” He was addressing
Harold but his eyes were on Rose. 
    She nodded confidently, hoping that
Harold would confirm the same.
    There was a second of tense silence
in which Michael’s smile began to waver.
    Then…
    “Fine, we’re fine. I was just
saying to your…employee here, how much I liked the décor.”
     Rose left out a sigh of relief,
visibly relaxing. “She’s being really helpful.” Harold added.
    “Great, that’s great.” Michael’s
smile was back in full force, recognising a regular gym user in Harold and
pleased that Rose was keeping him happy.  “Well, I’ll leave you in Rose’s
capable hands.” He nodded in Rose’s direction before making his way to the
other side of the gym and into his office.
    “Thanks.” Rose said gratefully
    “Don’t thank me. Just remember you
owe me one. He turned on his heel, making a beeline for the weights. “Let’s get
this orientation over with.”
    Yes, the guy was knob and he could
have embarrassed her in front of her boss. But he’d passed up on the
opportunity, so maybe there was a good side to Mr Muscle. And about owing him
one? Well, once this orientation was over he could take a running jump! Roll on
three o’clock and the end of her shift.
     
    The afternoon was bright, but
chilly as Rose made her way toward Faye’s shared accommodation. She was eager
to fill Faye in about